Assignments Generally: Lenders, or holders of mortgages or deeds of trust, often assign mortgages or deeds of trust to other lenders, or third parties. When this is done the assignee (person who received the assignment) steps into the place of the original lender or assignor. To effectuate an assignment, the general rules is that the assignment must be in proper written format and recorded to provide notice of the assignment.

Satisfactions Generally: Once a mortgage or deed of trust is paid, the holder of the mortgage is required to satisfy the mortgage or deed of trust of record to show that the mortgage or deed of trust is no longer a lien on the property. The general rule is that the satisfaction must be in proper written format and recorded to provide notice of the satisfaction. If the lender fails to record a satisfaction within set time limits, the lender may be responsible for damages set by statute for failure to timely cancel the lien. Depending on your state, a satisfaction may be called a Satisfaction, Cancellation, or Reconveyance. Some states still recognize marginal satisfaction but this is slowly being phased out. A marginal satisfaction is where the holder of the mortgage physically goes to the recording office and enters a satisfaction on the face of the the recorded mortgage, which is attested by the clerk.

Idaho Law

Execution of Assignment or Satisfaction: Must be signed by the mortgagee.

Assignment: An assignment of a mortgage may be recorded in like manner as a mortgage and such record operates as notice to all persons subsequently deriving title to the mortgage from the assignor. Recording is always recommended to avoid potential complications.

Demand to Satisfy: Upon full payoff of the mortgage, and upon the demand of the mortgagor, the mortgagee must execute, acknowledge, and deliver to him a certificate of the discharge of the mortgage so as to entitle it to be recorded, or mortgagee must enter satisfaction of record.

Recording Satisfaction: A certificate of the discharge of a real estate mortgage must be recorded, and a reference made in the record book to the book and page where the mortgage is recorded and in the minute of the discharge made upon the record of the mortgage to the book and page where the discharge is recorded.

Penalty: Mortgagee who fails (after demand of mortgagor) to present certificate of discharge to mortgagor, or satisfy the mortgage of record, is liable to mortgagor for all actual damages plus a penalty of $100. (No time limit is provided in section 45-915.)

Acknowledgment: An assignment or satisfaction must contain a proper Idaho acknowledgment, or other acknowledgment approved by Statute.

Idaho Statutes

45-909. RECORDING ASSIGNMENT OF MORTGAGE. An assignment of a mortgage may be recorded in like manner as a mortgage and such record operates as notice to all persons subsequently deriving title to the mortgage from the assignor.

45-912. MARGINAL DISCHARGE OF MORTGAGE. A recorded mortgage may be discharged by an entry in the margin of the record thereof, signed by the mortgagee, or his personal representative or assignee, acknowledging the satisfaction of the mortgage in the presence of the recorder, who must certify the acknowledgement in form substantially as follows: “Signed and acknowledged before me this …. day of …. in the year of ….. “A.B., Recorder.”

45-913. DISCHARGE OF MORTGAGE ON CERTIFICATE. A recorded mortgage if not discharged as provided in the preceding section, must be discharged upon the record by the officer having custody thereof, on the presentation to him of a certificate signed by the mortgagee, his personal representative or assigns, acknowledged or proved and certified as prescribed by the chapter on recording transfers, stating that the mortgage has been paid, satisfied or discharged: provided, that whenever a bank or the person appointed to liquidate the affairs of a bank as provided in section 26-908, has failed or neglected to issue a certificate showing the release, discharge or satisfaction of a real mortgage, the director of the department of finance, or his successor in office, may, upon the request of the owner, or any subsequent owner, or party in interest, issue to such party his certificate showing such mortgage to have been paid, discharged or satisfied even though the affairs of said bank have been completely liquidated.

45-914. RECORD OF DISCHARGE. A certificate of the discharge of a real estate mortgage must be recorded, and a reference made in the record book to the book and page where the mortgage is recorded and in the minute of the discharge made upon the record of the mortgage to the book and page where the discharge is recorded.

45-915. MORTGAGE — SATISFACTION — FAILURE TO RELEASE OF RECORD — PENALTY. When any mortgage, affecting the title to real property, has been satisfied, the holder thereof or his assignee must immediately, on the demand of the mortgagor, purchaser, or the successor in interest of either, execute, acknowledge, and deliver to him a certificate of the discharge thereof so as to entitle it to be recorded, or he must enter satisfaction or cause satisfaction of such mortgage or affecting the title to real property, to be entered of record; and any holder, or assignee of such holder, who refuses to execute, acknowledge, and deliver to the mortgagor, purchaser, or the successor in interest of either, the certificate of discharge, or to enter satisfaction, or cause satisfaction of the mortgage to be entered, as provided in this chapter, is liable to the mortgagor, purchaser, or his grantee or heirs, for all damages which he or they may sustain by reason of such refusal, and shall also forfeit to him or them the sum of $100.